The air turns warm, the flowers bloom, and it is time for Detroit’s favorite holiday: opening day. The Detroit Tigers have been hosting games in late March and early April, and this year will be the 119th game held in Detroit, but only the 23rd game played in Comerica Park.
The Tigers played in Tiger Stadium for 87 years, and they played their last game there on September 27th, 1999.
The Tigers have a 65-53-1 record on opening day throughout the years, and losing their most recent opening game 6-3 to the Boston Red Sox on April 6, 2023
This year, the Tigers play the Oakland Athletics, and the Tigers are expected to win this game with ease. The starter for the game will be newly acquired starting pitcher Kenta Maeda, who was signed this offseason by the rival Minnesota Twins.
The Tigers hope to start this season off well after starting slowly last year killed any chance of them making the postseason. The Tigers ended the season really well last year, going over 500 after the all-star break, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the woes of the start of the season.
Brady McGee ’27 has gone to opening day many times and said he hopes that he can go again this year.
“I love going with my dad every year, and we see (opening day) as like a holiday,” Mcgee said. “It’s a really electric atmosphere to go to, and its something that I really cherish to go to Eerie year with my dad.”
Jack Danielewicz ’26 also tries to go to Opening day every year, and said he thinks that this year will be different than years past.
“I think the Tigers are going to win the AL Central, and that all starts with opening day,” Danielewicz said. “If they win on opening day, they can strategize getting the momentum that they will need this year to win the AL Central and the postseason.”
Matthew Bartoszewicz ’27 has gone to opening day before, but he hasn’t been in a while.
“I hope to go back either this year or next year,” Bartoszewicz said. “It was a really fun experience when I have gone before, and I would love to go again with some friends.”